Method for the operation and expansion of a network of lights

ABSTRACT

Method for the operation and the expansion of a network of lights, each light in the network including a control module which is assigned to a group, each control module being in communication with a group controller as well as control modules in the same group. The network can be expanded by installing (19) new lights with their associated control modules, and each new control module scans (20) its environment and transmits environmental information to a central server where the environmental information is analysed and the new control modules are allocated (21) into groups. After allocation to a group in which control modules may be moved from one group to another or a new group is formed, the new control modules are available for normal operation. This process is repeated for each new light and associated control module.

The present invention relates to a method for operating, particularlyfor controlling, and expanding a network of lights, in which case thelights are in particular street lights.

Networks of lights are equipped with increasingly intelligent controlsystems. For instance, networks of lights can be operated bytele-management systems, in which a device known as segment controller,which is connected to a management console on a PC, controls a number oflights via their control module. The segment controller, which is toolarge to be integrated into a light, must be set up such that the lightsto be controlled can communicate with the controller via ashort-distance communication module. A failure of the segment controllerleads to a control failure of the light network.

There is also the method of equipping all light control modules of thenetwork to be controlled with a long-distance communication module, forinstance a GSM-based module, which the control modules use tocommunicate with a central server. Due to the large number of controlmodules actively integrated into a provider or long-distancecommunication network, relevant communication expenses arise when thisnetwork is used.

Furthermore, the commissioning/start-up of new lights within these knownsystems is costly, as particularly the G PS-supported allocation of thecontroller to a light must be carried out manually. Finally, the latencyin the network is comparatively high due to the large number of lightscontrollable by a segment controller.

The invention described herein aims to create a method for operating andexpanding a light network, which is easier to start up, guaranteesimproved system stability and is furthermore cheaper to operate.

The task is solved by a method described in claim 1 as well as a networkdescribed in claim 31. Advantageous embodiments of the invention aredescribed in the sub-claims referring to the above-mentioned claims aswell as the following description.

The method according to this invention facilitates operation of astabler and less costly light network with a simplified installationprocess. The method according to this invention makes use of multiplecontrol modules, each of which is allocated or is to be allocated to onelight and each of which is equipped with a long-distance communicationmodule (e.g. GSM, GPRS, Iridium or another cellular network or anEthernet connection), a short-distance communication module (ZigBee, 6LoWPAN or similar), preferably a near field communication module(especially with a near field sensor), a geocoordinates module todetermine the position of the control module based on GPS, GLONASSGalileo or other in particular satellite based positioning systems, acontroller, preferably at least one sensor and additionally a controloutput (e.g. on a DALI or 0 resp. 1 to 10 volt basis). The controloutput can transmit control signals to a driver of an illuminant of thelight, preferably a street light.

Furthermore, the network is equipped with at least one server to bereached via the long-distance communication module. A suitable softwarefor tele-management can run on this server. For operating the network,the control modules are divided into one or more groups of controlmodules, with this division being based on information provided by thecontrol modules concerning the environment, lights and/or controlmodules. The long-distance communication module can be based ondifferent techniques. For example it could be a cellular network, anIP-network or a long range peer to peer network. The division of thecontrol modules into one or more groups of control modules is preferablyperformed by the server.

As environmental information, in addition to geocoordinates, informationregarding adjacent control modules in the short-distance network (e.g.connection quality and other RF characteristics or neighbourhood tables)and/or environment-specific information (e.g. light intensity in thesurroundings) may be taken into consideration. The informationconcerning the lights may be information regarding the illuminants used,their drivers and/or further details of the allocated light, e.g. thecurrent light intensity or dimming. The control module information isparticularly information used for clear identification of the controlmodule, such as its IP address or another UID (Unique IDentifier).According to this invention, the server selects one control module pergroup, or in case of a single group of the group, as group controller.The other control modules of the corresponding group use theirshort-distance communication modules to communicate with thiscontroller. This means communication within a group uses thecorresponding short-distance communication modules. Within the group,the control modules of the group form a short-distance network via theircorresponding short-distance communication modules, preferably a meshnetwork. During (normal) operation of the network, the group controllercan only transmit its own environmental, light and/or control moduleinformation and the information received from its other control modulesto the server via the long-distance communication module. For both, themethods described above and below, transmission of information is alwaysexecuted through transmission of the corresponding data on the basis ofspecific communication protocols.

During normal operation of the network, the group controller can onlytransmit its own environmental, light and/or control module informationand the information received from its other control modules to theserver via the long-distance communication module. For this purpose,normal operation is understood as the usual operation of the network, inwhich each control module of the network is allocated to a group and inwhich all control modules carry out their actual task, controlling thelight.

A network set-up like this leads to a more stable operation thanprevious network systems. Due to the redundant set-up of the respectivecontrol modules within a group, a new group controller can easily bedetermined by the server in case of a group controller failure.

Once the new group controller has been announced within a group, i.e. onthe level of the short-distance communication network (PAN=Personal AreaNetwork), the other control modules not defined as group controllersestablish their connections via the group controller. This means thatthe server can continue to control and monitor the system. At the sametime, the single active control module (group controller) per groupmakes expenses significantly lower than in a network where all controlmodules communicate separately with the server via their respectivelong-distance module.

The set-up of the internal group network as mesh network makes thesystem and communication on the PAN level more fail-safe.

If “with” is used above or below to explain process steps, this does notnecessarily mean that the connected process steps are simultaneous.Rather, these process steps may (but do not have to) be simultaneous.

The expansion of the network is furthermore made easier if the networkautomatically records geo-information, particularly during initialcommissioning/start-up, preferably when voltage is first applied, as itthen carries out this process automatically after a new control moduleis switched on. This geo-information consists of location data, i.e.coordinates and a precise time stamp The geo-information is registeredby means of the geocoordinates module. At the same time or subsequently,the long-distance communication module logs in with a network provider.Preferably this should be a provider of communication lines, e.g. acellular network provider. A long distance communication network usuallywould be at least a cellular network. This log-in can take place underroaming conditions, which means that, regardless of where the respectivecontrol modules are to be set up at a later time, the factory mustalways only provide identical log-in information. Therefore, thecontroller and/or long-distance communication module have consistentlog-in data on the control module side.

After log-in with the network provider, the geo-information can then betransmitted to the server together with information regarding thecontrol module and/or lights provided by the new control module. Theautomatic storage of the data in a corresponding database by the serverfacilitates uncomplicated set-up of street lights. To reducecommunication costs, provider access data specific to an existinglong-distance network can be transmitted after the new control module'sinformation has been transmitted.

The processes described above and below also apply to the integration ofseveral new control modules.

In particular, the provider access data can be provided to the newcontrol module via firmware, if it is equipped with an electronic SIM.In this case, the new firmware is transferred to the controller or thelong-distance communication module, so that commissioning/start-up ofthe new control module becomes possible at low cost and under localconditions. Accordingly, provision of firmware by the server can achieveflexible communication and installation of the new control moduleswithout them having to be equipped differently by the factory.

To simplify the management of a multitude of networks, in particular ofstreet lights, it is beneficial to carry out allocation to a group andfurther data exchange with the new control module via a dedicatedproject server after the initial commissioning of the new control moduleand its first log-in on a log-in server.

A server in this case is not necessarily a separate data processingsystem with separate hardware. It can also merely be a project-specificseparation within a tele-management program. It may also be a virtualserver on the same hardware or within a cloud.

To facilitate problem-free operation, the project server couldpreferably be provided with information about the commissioned devicesby the log-in server after the initial log-in.

To lower costs, an interface from the server to the long distancenetwork provider or the network provider should preferably be used totransfer information regarding the control modules active within theirlong distance communication, to be suspended and/or to be made inactive.This means that the provider guarantees that only a low number ofcontrol modules (one control module per group) is active. The othercontrol modules can only communicate with the server via thecommunication path within the mesh network and then via the groupcontroller. A suspension, especially of an electronic SIM, means that itcan be activated for a short time in case of doubt, for instance if thegroup controller fails. Preferably the network compensates for thefailure of one communication path and establishes a new oneautomatically and thus with a minimum delay. The new communication canbe initiated through a corresponding request by the server or through atime-controlled inquiry and an attempt to access the provider network bythe control module.

The server can then transmit information to the other control modules,making these control modules communicate with the new group controllerduring normal operation.

To set up a mesh network, it can be advantageous for the respectivegroup controller to receive data about the members of its group,especially new control modules, from the server and for the groupcontroller to determine itself as group controller in relation to theother group members. As an alternative or in addition, the other groupmembers may receive data about the communication path or the desiredgroup controller to ensure that communication with the server remainsproblem-free.

Accordingly, the information provided by the server can be informationfor the control modules, which informs these about adjacent controlmodules of the same group. The server may, for instance, extract thisdata by observing the geocoordinates of the respective control modules.

After a successful initialisation or expansion of the mesh network, thegroup controller can transmit this message to the server. The server canthen continue to guide the expanded group in normal operation.

To signal successful commissioning/start-up, for instance successfulintegration of a control module into the group network (PAN) orsuccessfully established contact with a server, to the operatingpersonnel when a new light or a new control module is installed and/orafter maintenance work on the respective light, the control module canoperate the light at different brightness levels over predetermined ordeterminable time intervals once the desired state has been reached.

Preferably the new control module receives a parameter set for operatingthe light from the server after initial installation and/orreinstallation. This set may, for instance, consist of dimming curves.

Furthermore, operation of a network of lights is improved, if thecontrol modules of a group are provided with software updates by asoftware transmitted from the server to the group controller andsubsequently or simultaneously transmitted further. This may, forexample, make new light functions possible or release them for use.

As an alternative, a control module may receive a new controllersoftware, in particular firmware, directly from the server, by-passingthe group controller. However, for this purpose the respective controlmodule must first be reactivated with the provider.

To facilitate the fastest possible start-up of the network withoutdelays, possible new control modules can scan the short-distance networkfor other control modules automatically after they are first started up,thereby creating an internal table of adjacent modules which containsthe closest adjacent modules in the short-distance network. This listcan later be transmitted to the server. In particular, this adjacentmodule information can be transmitted to the server together with otherlight-specific or control module-specific information after the meshnetwork is set up and a group controller has been allocated.

For fail-safe operation and problem-free expansion of the network, it isbeneficial if at least a part of the control modules, preferably in onegroup and specifically in response to a server request, receiveinformation about adjacent control modules via the short-distancecommunication module, depending on the number of new control modules,the closeness of the new control modules, the distance of new controlmodules from the group controller and/or the frequency of disruptiveevents. These control modules shall register the quality of theconnection to the adjacent control modules and transmit this informationto the server via their short-distance communication module and thegroup controller or directly via their long-distance communicationmodule, which will cause the server to make the group division anddetermine the group controller, check this division/determination and/orchange it, if necessary.

To do so, the control modules may switch to another PAN-internalcommunication mode and contact adjacent control modules via therespective short-distance communication module and register these aswell as the quality of their connection to them.

The registration of adjacent module information can be time-limited.Once a specific time has elapsed and/or after identification of aspecified number of closely adjacent modules, this information can betransmitted to the group controller via the respective short-distancecommunication module or, if the connection is active, to the server viathe long-distance communication module, possibly together with othergeo- and/or light- and/or control module-specific information. Theserver can use this information to check the group division and groupcontroller allocation and/or revise it, if necessary.

A particular advantage for network installation is achieved through aprocess in which, preferably for transmitting light-specificinformation, an information medium for registering light-specificinformation located on part of the light is read out by the controlmodule automatically and/or after being triggered. This informationmedium may be a chip, a memory card, an RFID tag or similar informationcarriers which can be read out without being touched. Preferably theinformation medium will be read out by a near field sensor of thecontrol module without being touched. For instance, this may be an RFIDreader, which communicated with an RFID transponder or tag. The read-outinformation can be used by the control module to select specificoperating parameters, or it can merely be transferred to the server, forinstance so that operating parameters can be transferred from there.

Maintenance of a light network according to this invention is alsoimproved, if the light-specific information of the new control module islinked with a inventory list on the server, preferably with the contentsof this list, at least partially being displayed if a component of thelight fails. The individual components of the light may be equipped witha link to a web shop or a different ordering method so that potentiallyinoperative parts can be ordered without a delay.

Instead of observing information about their short-distance networkenvironment on the basis of malfunctions or a request based on thenumber of new control modules of a group, the modules can preferablyregister this information at a pre-determined time and/or due to aninitialisation by the server. For this purpose it may be helpful tolimit communication within the mesh network via the group controller tothe server for a short time and only allow observation and communicationwith the closest adjacent modules in the mesh network based on theshort-distance module and the respective protocol. This serves to createneighbourhood module tables or lists, with information about the signalstrength and/or quality of the connection to the respective adjacentmodules being registered at the same time. This information can becached and/or stored and then transmitted via the group controller or,if all long-distance communication modules of the control modules areactive, transmitted directly to the server.

For targeted inspection or checking the status of several controlmodules, these should preferably be pre-selected by the server before apredefined inquiry, a process in which for instance the control moduleconcentration can be determined and checked on the basis of apre-defined or definable limit value. Subsequently, if the limit valueis exceeded, a redetermination of the environment, light and/or controlmodule specific information can be initialised.

To enable the server to select a suitable group controller and integratenew control modules optimally, it may be beneficial to have therespective control modules register and save data concerning their UIDin the short-distance network, their IP address in the long-distancenetwork, their UID in the near field network, light-specificinformation, data of a number of neighbours in the short-distancenetwork, particularly of up to 50, preferably of up to 10 adjacentcontrol modules in the short-distance network including their UIDsand/or the connection quality of the adjacent control modules during ascan process and then have this information (data) transmitted via thegroup controller to the server at a given time. If the control module isactive, i.e. equipped with an active long-distance network access, theserver may receive this information directly from the control module.

The commissioning of the network and the division into groups and/orallocation of the group controller on the server should preferably becarried out automatically. As an alternative or in addition, thedivision into groups and/or allocation of the group controller may bevaried by user input. For instance, this is beneficial if a programrunning on the server causes an ambiguous selection of a groupcontroller.

To keep the latency in the network under a desired level, a maximumdefinable number of control modules should preferably be allocated toeach group being set on the server, with 200 control modules potentiallybeing the upper limit. Tests and simulations with up to 2000 lights haveshown that the latency in larger network groups becomes too large toguarantee proper operation and regular inspection of the network status.

Preferably the number of control modules should be less than 200 pergroup, particularly less than 50 control modules.

Furthermore the stability of the system is improved sufficiently if theselection of a controller as group controller based particularly onfuzzy control strategies is automatic. Accordingly the suspension ordeactivation of a control module based on fuzzy control strategies canalso be automatic.

In particular, the selection of the group controller and/or allocationof the control modules to their respective group can take into accountat least some of the rules for:

-   -   the ratio of active to inactive control modules,—the        availability of adjacent control modules in the short-distance        network,    -   the number of network malfunctions,    -   the network changes (new control modules in relation to deleted        control modules),    -   the changes of connection quality in the short-distance network,    -   the estimated cost of connection to the long-distance network        provider,    -   the communication of sensor data between adjacent groups,    -   the latency within a group (including distance-dependent delay),    -   fall-back options (replacement of failed group controllers),        and/or    -   a stabilisation component to take into account a time-controlled        damping.

Preferably the rules are mapped and linked by an A1 system. A simplecombination of these rules can be based on logic operations, e.g.AND/OR/NOR combinations.

Furthermore, the fail safety is increased if at least one replacementgroup controller is defined by the server according to the controlstrategies, which switches from a suspended to an active state if theactual group controller fails.

To make detection of environment information by the short-distancenetwork and communication in the short-distance network for purposes ofthe normal operation (communication with the server) more problem-free,it may be beneficial for the corresponding communication in theshort-distance network to take place on different frequency bands ofsaid network. Preferably the same antennae can be used for this(multiplex operation).

According to a further development of the method according to thisinvention, information relevant for multiple groups can be exchangedbetween adjacent groups. To ensure that particularly sensor informationrelevant for multiple groups or data relevant for multiple groups basedon sensor information can be transmitted fast, for instance informationregarding the lighting situation for a driving car or a pedestrian, itis beneficial if the respective information can be transmitted directlyvia the long-distance network to a control module of an adjacent group,by-passing the server. In particular, this information can betransmitted directly from the control module equipped with the sensorwhich created the information. Accordingly, the communication can becarried out via the long-distance network provider, but does not have touse the server. For protocol purposes the server can be informed of therespective information. In particular, transmission of this informationuses the known group controllers in the long-distance network.

As an alternative, data relevant for multiple groups based on sensorinformation can be transmitted directly via the short-distance networkto a control module of an adjacent group, by-passing the server, withtransmission of the date preferably using a different frequency bandthan the one used during normal operation within one group. For thispurpose, multiplex operation of the short-distance module can, onceagain, be an advantage.

It is beneficial for the server, if in the corresponding software agroup-independent selection of control modules for the exchange of datarelevant for multiple groups can be made. This can be supportedgraphically, for instance if those control modules which are to exchangesensor information are marked on an overview map. This makes it possiblefor large crossroads on the border of adjacent groups equipped withcontrol modules belonging to different groups to be marked, to quicklyincrease the lighting volume in the driving direction of an approachingcar.

A network according to this invention designed as described above andbelow also has the corresponding advantages.

For further advantages and detailed features of the invention, refer tothe following figure descriptions. The schematic figures show:

FIG. 1: a network according to this invention,

FIG. 2: a further object according to this invention,

FIG. 3: a simplified flow diagram for a process according to thisinvention,

FIG. 4: a further object according to this invention,

FIG. 5: a component of an object according to this invention;

FIG. 6 shows a further subject matter according to the invention, and

FIG. 7 shows a part of a subject matter according to the inventionaccording to FIG. 6.

Individual technical features of the design examples described below canalso be combined with design examples described above as well as thefeatures of independent claims and potential further claims to formobjects according to this invention. If it makes sense, functionallyequivalent elements are given the same reference number.

The present invention comprises a network comprising a plurality ofluminaires, each luminaire having a controller or control module forcontrolling the operation thereof, and a server. Each controller isconnected over an GSM Modem or a low power radio network (LPRN) anddecides how best they can communicate to the server. In a preferredembodiment, the controllers are able to form small networks with a groupcontroller, the group controller having an active GSM modem which isshared within the small network and through which communication is madewith the server over a provider GSM network.

As each controller communicates with the group controller, there is noneed for more than one active GSM modem to be present in each smallnetwork with the advantage that costs can be reduced (GSM networkcosts). Each controller uses the LPRN to communication to its groupcontroller using 6L0WAN using an IPv6 protocol. As a result, each smallnetwork comprises an internet protocol version 6 (I Pv6) network andcommunication within the network is only using I Pv6 protocols.

The server also operates using I Pv6 protocols. However, to transmitinformation from each group controller to the server, a GSM network isneeded and currently, these operate using internet protocol version 4 (IPv4) protocols. This means that communication between the groupcontroller and the server needs to be converted from I Pv6 to IPv4 fortransmission over the GSM network and then converted back again at theserver. In addition, the communication over the GSM network is encryptedand secure, the encryption being provided in accordance with a suitableencryption protocol.

The server can decipher the encrypted communications received from groupcontrollers over the GSM network and can also encrypt communications fortransmission to the group controllers over the GSM network. Thisprovides an end-to-end encrypted communication between the groupcontrollers and the server.

The method for operation and expansion of a network of lights accordingto this invention results in the system depicted in a simplified mannerin FIG. 1 with a multitude of control modules 1, each of which areallocated to a control module designated as group controller 2. Thehardware of group controller 2 is identical to control modules 1.However, only the respective group controller 2 can use long-distanceconnection 3 to communicate with a server 4. The other control modules 1of a group are suspended and/or inactive for long-distancecommunication. Typically this is access to a local cellular networkprovider, through which the server can then remain accessible based onIP-WAN. Communication between the servers and group controllers can, forinstance, be carried out via a common internet protocol (TCP/IP). Asdescribed above, this communication is using IPv6 protocol, andcommunication between the server and the group controllers involvestunnelling between IPv6 and IPv4 for transmission onto the GSM network,a communication using IPv4 over the GSM network, and a tunnellingbetween IPv4 and IPv6 at the server.

It will readily be understood that the requirement for theconversion/tunnelling between IPv6 and IPv4 and back again is due to theGSM network operating at IPv4. However, in the future, once the GSMnetwork operates at IPv6, there will be no need for thisconversion/tunnelling.

It will also be appreciated that in other embodiments of the presentinvention, the group controller and the server may operate on the sameversion of IP protocol as the GSM network.

Within a group 7, the control modules communicate with each other viashort-distance connections 6. Preferably this communication should bebased on a mesh network on the IEEE 802.1 5.4 standard, for exampleZigBee.

The individual groups 7 of control modules 1, 2 can generally not seeeach other and therefore cannot interfere with each other. However, forcommunication of several groups it may be intended for control moduleswith adjacent locations to use short-distance connection 8 toshare/exchange or forward sensor data or corresponding informationbetween groups. This can then be used to initiate actions such as anincrease of the light volume. As an alternative, this communication mayalso use the corresponding group controllers 2, which can see each otherthrough their IP addresses in the inter- or intranet. The informationregarding which control module may communicate with which other controlmodule and how this module can communicate is defined on the server andcarried out, for instance in case of short-distance communicationbetween groups, in particular by means of a multiplex unit of eachcontrol module.

Furthermore, a server for operating a network according to thisinvention can control a state-of-the-art network with a segmentcontroller 15 (FIG. 2) in addition to connecting to one or severalgroups 7 of control modules 1, 2, which form a PAN. This segmentcontroller manages several light controllers 9. The segment controller15 is connected via an interface 11, which makes data exchange withserver 4 possible. In addition to a connection to several groups 7 via,if necessary, an additional interface 12, the server 4 can exchange datawith a longdistance network provider 14 via another interface (API) 13.

In general, a database 16 runs on the server, interacting with differentoperating modules (clients) 17. A graphical user interface 18 grants theuser access to the server and its programs for operation and controlpurposes.

FIG. 3 briefly describes the process of setting up a network of streetlights. After installation 19 of a number of new control modules onstreet lights, these will scan their environment in phase 20 which iseither started by the server or starts automatically. They then transmitenvironment information and possible light-specific or control modulespecific information to the server. This can take place either directlyunder roaming conditions with a first provider or, if necessary, with alocal network provider determined by the server after the first log-inof the respective control modules. Once the environmental and otherinformation has been transmitted by the respective control modules ofthe street light, an analysis of the control modules and allocation 21into groups takes place. On the PAN level, integration of one or morenew control modules can be dynamic on the basis of the standard in use.Once the respective group controller has transmitted a data signal tothe server, informing the server that the internal group communicationwith the new control module has been successfully established, thesystem switches over to expanded normal or usual operation 22.

If additional control modules in a quantity pre-determined on the serverhave been installed, the process can be carried out again according tofeedback loop 25, in which case a new division into groups or newallocation of a group controller can take place based on the transmittedinformation and the rules available to the server.

According to another design example of the invention according to FIG.4, a number of lights with their respective control modules 23 and 23′are arranged along a street 24. These lights belong to a group of lightsor control modules A, which was pre-determined on the server. Both groupA and group B are marked by the broken lines 26 or 27. Group B containslights with their corresponding control modules 28 or 28′ which areplaced alongside an intersecting street 29 leading into street 24. Theinner black circles 31 and 32 mark a light with an active controlmodule, a group controller. Sensors S1 and S2 are allocated to controlmodule 23 and 28 respectively. As sensors, above all, radar sensors,infra red sensors (particularly passive infra red sensors) or inductionloops in street 24 or 29 may be considered. These detect an approachingobject, leading to the control modules both within a group and betweengroups adapting the light of the respective street light of the group tothe situation.

For instance, sensor S1 of the control module 23 of street light detectsan approaching object, e.g. a car, the information is shared in group A,the light intensity of group A is increased by control modules 23 and23′ and this information or the information about the approaching car istransmitted via group controller 23′ to the group controller 28′ ofgroup B. Subsequently, the brightness of the relevant lights of controlmodules 28 or 28′, i.e. those selected by the server, is adjusted aswell. As an alternative, the control module 23 equipped with sensor S1could communicate directly with the group controller 28′ of group B oranother control module 28 of a street light allocated to this groupcontroller, which means that this information is shared in the networkand group B reacts accordingly.

Allocation of the respective control modules and therefore thecorresponding street lights of a first group, which are to be providedwith sensor information of an adjacent group's sensor and through whichthe information is then transmitted between groups, can be carried outon the server. Input masks are available for this purpose, particularlyon the server.

A control module according to this invention, which can be used toimplement the method described above, is preferably designed as aseparate unit, which can be installed on a light head, for instance of astreet light (cf. FIG. 7). For further details regarding the crucialcomponents of an externally installed control module, see FIG. 5. Theexploded view of this figure comprises the control module, a top housingpart 33 and a bottom housing part 34. The bottom housing part is to befastened to a base fitted on top of the light by means of seal 36. Thepart is connected with the base through bayonet-type twisting contacts37. These contacts 37 are fastened in housing 34 and also the locationof the central circuit board unit 38. Among other things, a controller39, short- and long-distance communication modules and an accelerationsensor unit 41 for detecting in particular seismic waves are located onthis circuit board unit.

This figure does not show an RFID reader, which can be installed in abase on the light housing side in order to register light-specific dataof an RFID transponder in the near field.

The depiction according to FIG. 6 illustrates a road system having aplurality of roads 42 of a length of several hundred metres. These roadsare lined by a multiplicity of street light lights 43 with respectivecontrol modules. The control modules are each provided with sensors fordetecting seismic waves. These may be simple acceleration sensors, onthe one hand. Alternatively, more complicated seismometers may also beused in a manner integrated in the street light. The data emanating fromthe acceleration sensors, which are preferably integrated in the controlmodule directly inside the housing, can be transmitted to the server viathe group controller and its long-range communication module. As aresult, it is possible to detect seismic waves even in the case ofrelatively inaccurate sensors on account of the multiplicity of signalstransmitted by said sensors and to analyse them in a spatially andtemporally resolved manner in the server on the basis of thegeocoordinates to be concomitantly transmitted by the control modulesand the group controller. This results in a comparatively accuratedepiction of the earthquake progress even with a poor resolution of theP waves and/or S waves. Accordingly, information relating to theepicenter of the earthquake can also be extracted from the information.This can happen either on the server of the network or on a specialserver assigned to an earthquake centre. Accordingly, a subsequenttsunami warning or else an earthquake warning may also result viacontrol of the luminaires, for example by emitting light signalspreviously disclosed to the population. These may be, for example,wave-like light signals of alternating and propagating luminositieswhich run along the road.

By integrating a street light according to FIG. 7 in the ground andpermanently arranging and connecting said street light to the groundusing a layer of lean concrete 44, a foundation pipe 45 and densefilling material 46, for example, acceleration sensors arranged in thecontrol module in or on the luminaire head 48 can effectively pick upthe seismic waves propagating in the soil or along its surface via themast 49. Alternatively or additionally, a more finely resolvingseismometer 52 may also be arranged in the base of the mast 49, whichseismometer is connected to the control module 2 via a data line (notshown). A great advantage of the system is the evaluation of amultiplicity of sensors which are distributed over a large area, whichevaluation can be carried out virtually at the same time and enables ananalysis in order to detect seismic waves 50 illustrated using dashedlines in FIG. 6. At the same time, an information system which can beused to simultaneously inform a multiplicity of road users is possible.

The invention claimed is:
 1. Method for operating a network of lightsincluding the steps of: providing a network of lights comprising aplurality of lights, each light having a control module associatedtherewith, each control module comprising: one long-distancecommunication module, one short-distance communication module, ageocoordinate module, a controller, each control module being operablefor providing a control output for controlling a driver of an associatedlight, providing at least one server reachable via the long-distancecommunication module, dividing the control modules into at least onegroup of control modules based on at least one of environmental, lightand control module information provided by the control modules,selecting one of the control modules of said at least one group as agroup controller, with which all other control modules of this group cancommunicate via their short-distance communication modules, forming ashort-distance network with the control modules within the group, viatheir corresponding short-distance communication modules, transmitting,during normal network operation, from the group controller to the serverat least one of: its own environmental, light and control moduleinformation and the corresponding information coming from the othercontrol modules wherein the selection of a control module as groupcontroller is based on fuzzy control strategies.
 2. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein the selection of a control module as groupcontroller takes into account rules for at least one of: a) the ratio ofactive to inactive control modules, b) the availability of adjacentcontrol modules in the short-distance network, c) the number of networkmalfunctions, d) the network changes, e) the changes of connectionquality in the short-distance network, f) the estimated cost ofconnection to the long-distance network provider, g) the communicationof sensor data between adjacent groups, h) the latency, i) the failureand replacement of active group controllers, and j) a stabilizationcomponent to take into account a time-controlled damping.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 2, wherein the rules are mapped and linked by anartificial intelligence.
 4. The method according to claim 1, comprisingthe step of adding a new control module, and further including the stepof receiving, at the new control module, from the server a parameter setfor operating the light.
 5. The method according to claim 1, comprisingthe step of adding a new control module, and further including the stepsof: allocating the new control module to a group and informing the groupcontroller about the new control module.
 6. The method according toclaim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting, using the controlmodules, data concerning at least one of a unique identifier (UID) of acontrol module in the short-distance network, an IP address of a controlmodule in the long-distance network, light specific information, data ofup to 50 adjacent control modules in the short-distance networkincluding their UIDs, data of up to 10 adjacent control modules in theshort-distance network including their UIDs and the connection qualityof the adjacent control modules to the server.
 7. Method for operating anetwork of lights including the steps of: providing a network of lightscomprising a plurality of lights, each light having a control moduleassociated therewith, each control module comprising: one long-distancecommunication module, one short-distance communication module, ageocoordinate module, a controller, each control module being operablefor providing a control output for controlling a driver of an associatedlight, providing at least one server reachable via the long-distancecommunication module, dividing the control modules into at least onegroup of control modules based on at least one of environmental, lightand control module information provided by the control modules,selecting one of the control modules of said at least one group as agroup controller, with which all other control modules of this group cancommunicate via their short-distance communication modules, forming ashort-distance network with the control modules within the group, viatheir corresponding short-distance communication modules, transmitting,during normal network operation, from the group controller to the serverat least one of: its own environmental, light and control moduleinformation and the corresponding information coming from the othercontrol modules and defining at least one replacement group controller,and switching the at least one replacement group controller from asuspended to an active state if the current group controller fails. 8.The method according to claim 7, comprising the step of adding a newcontrol module, and wherein the new control module is first commissionedand started-up when voltage is first applied.
 9. The method according toclaim 7, wherein each control module includes a near-field communicationmodule.
 10. The method according to claim 7, comprising the step ofadding a new control module, and further including the step oftransmitting specific network provider log-in data for a locallyavailable long distance network to the new control module after thetransmission of its geographic coordinates and the time stamp togetherwith at least one of: control module and light-specific informationassociated with said new control module.
 11. The method according toclaim 7, comprising the step of adding a new control module, and furthercomprising the step of transmitting information concerning the newcontrol module to the network provider via an interface to said networkprovider.
 12. The method according to claim 7, further including thestep of providing the control modules of one group with software updatesby a software transferred from the server to the associated groupcontroller.
 13. The method according to claim 7, comprising the step ofadding a new control module, and further including the step ofreceiving, at the new control module, from the server a parameter setfor operating the light.
 14. The method according to claim 7, furtherincluding the step of operating, using the control module, the light atdifferent brightness levels over a predetermined or determinable timeinterval after voltage is applied.
 15. The method according to claim 7,comprising the step of adding a new control module, and furtherincluding the steps of: allocating the new control module to a group andinforming the group controller about the new control module.
 16. Themethod according to claim 7, comprising the step of adding new controlmodules, and further including the steps of: receiving, using at least apart of the control modules, information about adjacent control modulesvia the short-distance communication module, depending on the number ofnew control modules, the closeness of the new control modules, thedistance of new control modules from the group controller and/or thefrequency of disruptive events, registering, using at least a part ofthe control modules, the quality of the connection to the adjacentcontrol modules, transmitting this information to the server via theirshort-distance communication module and the group controller or directlyvia their long-distance communication module, performing, using theserver, at least one of the following steps: making the group divisionand allocating the group controller, checking the group division andgroup controller allocation and changing the group division and groupcontroller allocation.
 17. The method according to claim 7, wherein thestep of defining at least one replacement group controller is performedby the server and according to control strategies.
 18. The methodaccording to claim 7, comprising the step of adding a new controlmodule, and further comprising the step of automatically scanning, usingthe new control module, the short-distance network for other controlmodules when the new control module is first switched on.
 19. The methodaccording to claim 7, comprising the step of adding a new controlmodule, and further comprising the step of reading out informationmediums located on one part of the light for registering light-specificinformation said step of reading out being performed by the new controlmodule automatically and/or after the new control module has beentriggered.
 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the informationmedium is read out via the near field communication module of the newcontrol module.
 21. The method according to claim 7, comprising the stepof adding a new control module, and further comprising the steps of:linking the light-specific information of the light allocated to the newcontrol module to an inventory list.
 22. The method according to claim7, further comprising the step of transmitting, using the controlmodules, data concerning at least one of a unique identifier (UID) of acontrol module in the short-distance network, an IP address of a controlmodule in the long-distance network, light specific information, data ofup to 50 adjacent control modules in the short-distance networkincluding their UIDs, data of up to 10 adjacent control modules in theshort-distance network including their UIDs and the connection qualityof the adjacent control modules to the server.
 23. Network of lightscomprising a plurality of luminaires, each luminaire having a controlmodule associated therewith, each of the control modules comprising: along-range communication module, a short-range communication module, ageocoordinates module, and a controller, each control module beingconfigured for providing a control output for controlling a driver ofthe luminaire, the control output comprising control signals for thedriver of a luminous means of the associated luminaire, and at least oneserver reachable via the long-range communication module, the networkbeing configured to be operated by: dividing the control modules into atleast one group of control modules based on at least one ofenvironmental, light and control module information provided by thecontrol modules, selecting one of the control modules of said at leastone group as a group controller, with which all other control modules ofthis group can communicate via their short-distance communicationmodules, forming a short-distance network with the control moduleswithin the group, via their corresponding short-distance communicationmodules, transmitting, during normal network operation, from the groupcontroller to the server at least one of its own environmental, lightand control module information and the corresponding information comingfrom the other control modules, wherein the selection of a controlmodule as group controller is based on fuzzy control strategies. 24.Network of lights comprising a plurality of luminaires, each luminairehaving a control module associated therewith, each of the controlmodules comprising: a long-range communication module, a short-rangecommunication module, a geocoordinates module, and a controller, eachcontrol module being configured for providing a control output forcontrolling a driver of the luminaire, the control output comprisingcontrol signals for the driver of a luminous means of the associatedluminaire, and at least one server reachable via the long-rangecommunication module, the network being configured to be operated by:dividing the control modules into at least one group of control modulesbased on at least one of environmental, light and control moduleinformation provided by the control modules, selecting one of thecontrol modules of said at least one group as a group controller, withwhich all other control modules of this group can communicate via theirshort-distance communication modules, forming a short-distance networkwith the control modules within the group, via their correspondingshort-distance communication modules, transmitting, during normalnetwork operation, from the group controller to the server at least oneof its own environmental, light and control module information and thecorresponding information coming from the other control modules, anddefining at least one replacement group controller, and switching the atleast one replacement group controller from a suspended to an activestate if the current group controller fails.
 25. Method for expanding anetwork of lights including the steps of: providing a network of lightscomprising a plurality of lights, each light having a control moduleassociated therewith, each control module comprising: one long-distancecommunication module, one short-distance communication module, ageocoordinate module, a controller, each control module being operablefor providing a control output for controlling a driver of an associatedlight, providing at least one server reachable via the long-distancecommunication module, dividing the control modules into at least onegroup of control modules based on at least one of environmental, lightand control module information provided by the control modules,selecting one of the control modules of said at least one group as agroup controller, with which all other control modules of this group cancommunicate via their short-distance communication modules, forming ashort-distance network with the control modules within the group, viatheir corresponding short-distance communication modules, transmitting,during normal network operation, from the group controller to the serverat least one of its own environmental, light and control moduleinformation and the corresponding information coming from the othercontrol modules, adding a new control module, and automaticallyscanning, using the new control module, the short-distance network forother control modules when the new control module is first switched on.26. Network of lights comprising a plurality of luminaires, eachluminaire having a control module associated therewith, each of thecontrol modules comprising: a long-range communication module, ashort-range communication module, a geocoordinates module, and acontroller, each control module being configured for providing a controloutput for controlling a driver of the luminaire, the control outputcomprising control signals for the driver of a luminous means of theassociated luminaire, and at least one server reachable via thelong-range communication module, the network being configured to beexpanded by: dividing the control modules into at least one group ofcontrol modules based on at least one of environmental, light andcontrol module information provided by the control modules, selectingone of the control modules of said at least one group as a groupcontroller, with which all other control modules of this group cancommunicate via their short-distance communication modules, forming ashort-distance network with the control modules within the group, viatheir corresponding short-distance communication modules, transmitting,during normal network operation, from the group controller to the serverat least one of its own environmental, light and control moduleinformation and the corresponding information coming from the othercontrol modules, and adding a new control module, and automaticallyscanning, using the new control module, the short-distance network forother control modules when the new control module is first switched on.